Greensville County, Virginia

Greensville County, Virginia
Greensville County Courthouse, also serving the City of Emporia
Seal
Location in the U.S. state of Virginia
Virginia's location in the U.S.
Founded	1780
Seat	Emporia
Largest town	Jarratt
Area
• Total	297 sq mi (769 km2)
• Land	295 sq mi (764 km2)
• Water	1.6 sq mi (4 km2), 0.5%
Population
• (2010)	12,243
• Density	39/sq mi (15/km²)
Congressional district	4th
Time zone	Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website	www.greensvillecountyva.gov

Greensville County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 12,243. Its county seat is Emporia.

History

Greensville County was established in 1781 from Brunswick County. The county is probably named for Sir Richard Grenville, leader of the settlement on Roanoke Island, 1585. There is also belief that it may be named after Nathanael Greene, a Major General of the Continental Army and one of George Washington's brightest officers.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 297 square miles (770 km²), of which 295 square miles (760 km²) is land and 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²) (0.5%) is water.

The Meherrin River forms the boundary between Greensville County and Southampton County.

Adjacent counties / independent city

• Brunswick County, Virginia - west
• Dinwiddie County, Virginia - north
• Sussex County, Virginia - northeast
• Southampton County, Virginia - east
• Northampton County, North Carolina - south
• Emporia, Virginia - surrounded by Greensville County

Major Highways

• I‑95
• US 58
• US 301
• SR 139
• SR 186

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1790	6,362		—
1800	6,727		5.7%
1810	6,853		1.9%
1820	6,858		0.1%
1830	7,117		3.8%
1840	6,366		−10.6%
1850	5,639		−11.4%
1860	6,374		13.0%
1870	6,362		−0.2%
1880	8,407		32.1%
1890	8,230		−2.1%
1900	9,758		18.6%
1910	11,890		21.8%
1920	11,606		−2.4%
1930	13,388		15.4%
1940	14,866		11.0%
1950	16,319		9.8%
1960	16,155		−1.0%
1970	9,604		−40.6%
1980	10,903		13.5%
1990	8,853		−18.8%
2000	11,560		30.6%
2010	12,243		5.9%
Est. 2014	11,681		−4.6%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2012

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 12,243 people residing in the county. 59.8% were Black or African American, 38.5% White, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% Native American, 0.3% of some other race and 0.8% of two or more races. 1.4% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

As of the census of 2000, there were 11,560 people, 3,375 households, and 2,396 families residing in the county. The population density was 39 people per square mile (15/km²). There were 3,765 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile (5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 38.94% White, 59.75% Black or African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.47% from other races, and 0.32% from two or more races. 0.93% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,375 households out of which 29.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.80% were married couples living together, 16.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.00% were non-families. 25.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the county, the population was spread out with 18.20% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 38.70% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 11.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 160.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 177.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,002, and the median income for a family was $38,810. Males had a median income of $24,919 versus $19,849 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,632. 14.70% of the population and 12.40% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 17.00% are under the age of 18 and 18.60% are 65 or older.

Government and infrastructure

Virginia Department of Corrections operates the Greensville Correctional Center in unincorporated Greensville County, near Jarratt. Greensville houses the State of Virginia execution chamber.

Board of Supervisors

District 1: James C. Vaughan (I)

District 2: Michael W. Ferguson (I)

District 3: Margaret T. Lee (I)

District 4: Peggy R. Wiley (I)

Constitutional Officers

*Clerk of the Circuit Court: Robert C. Wrenn (I)

Commissioner of the Revenue: Martha S. Swenson (I)

*Commonwealth's Attorney: Patricia Taylor Watson (I)

*Sheriff: James R. Edwards, Jr. (I)

Treasurer: Pamela Allen Lifsey (I)

*Positions shared with Emporia City.

Greensville is represented by Democrat L. Louise Lucas in the Virginia Senate, Democrat Roslyn C. Tyler in the Virginia House of Delegates, and Republican J. Randy Forbes in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Communities

Although Emporia lies within the boundaries of Greensville County and serves as the county seat, it is an independent city and thus not part of the county.

Town

• Jarratt

Unincorporated communities

• Skippers

See also

• National Register of Historic Places in Greensville County, Virginia

External links

• Official website